Some Mandate Relief is Proposed

In the governor’s State-of-the-State address, there was no mention of mandate relief, yet several county executives said they were not expecting to hear much about it then, that it would be during the governor’s budget address where they would expect some details about coping with unfunded mandates. Governor Cuomo did speak to unfunded mandates in his proposed 2013-2014 budget address Tuesday, introducing the topic this way.

Stephen Acquario is the executive director of the New York State Association of Counties, or NYSAC.

Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro says he did not expect sweeping mandate relief in the budget proposal, but the Republican did expect to hear about incremental improvements, and says there were some tools offered to municipalities in that regard.

Democratic State Assemblyman Kevin Cahill, who represents Dutchess and Ulster Counties, says he will work with local leaders and help advocate for mandate relief.

The governor proposed a Tier 6 savings financing plan for pension relief, by which municipalities could finance against savings they would realize in the later years of the previously passed plan.

Mike Spano is the mayor of Yonkers, a Westchester County city in financial distress.

Yet the Democrat is not in favor of the Governor’s proposed Financial Restructuring Assistance Task Force to offer advice to municipalities to help restructure their finances.

NYSAC’s Stephen Acquario says his group will participate in budget negotiations with the governor, state legislators, and county leaders.